Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
French and German
"land brilliant"
Ancient saint's name used for cowardly cartoon lion.
Irish
"little old one"
St. Senán was a famed 6th-century monk, who founded a monastery on Inis Cathaigh whose ruins can still be seen today. Legend has it that before he could found the monastery, he had to banish a great…
Sanskrit
"filled with knowledge"
Almost unknown in the western world, Gyan comes from a Sanskrit word for knowledge. It may appeal to parents looking for a name influenced by eastern philosophy, like Bodhi or Zen.
Latin
"wise"
This name of a famous ancient Roman jurist is sometimes heard in the Hispanic community.
Hindi
"knowledgeable"
Surname of a noted modern Urdu poet.
Arabic
"intelligent, logical"
Akila, which can also be spelled Akilah, is a sleek, modern-feeling name with a strong meaning. Some sources say the name Akila may also be Egyptian or Swahili. There's a name Aquila in the New…
Tupi
"wise person"
Move over Maia, Mia and Mara - there's a new melodious M name on the block! Maiara has a great meaning and a soft flowing sound which fits in with current trends.
Greek; Arabic
"wisdom, ship"
Sophina is an English elaboration on the internationally popular Sophia, borne by American actress Sophina Brown. It may also be a variant spelling of the Muslim name Safina/Sofina, meaning "vessel,…
The meaning of intelligent elevates this A-starting name for girls above other similar possibilities.
English word name
"learned person"
A new, hyper-intelligent word name that first appeared on the charts in 2008.
Hawaiian
"shining, brilliant"
Just one letter separates Alohi from the famous Hawaiian greeting "aloha," but that one letter makes all the difference.
Germanic
"old, wise ruler"
In an era with so many created, modern names, Aldrich oozes history and substance. But it is also fit for modern times, given its surname-as-name status and the nickname potential (Al, Richie, etc).
English
"old, wise leader"
Name long associated with eloquent Black Panther activist Eldridge Cleaver and jazz great Roy Eldridge.
"knowledge, science, learning"
Looking for a strong girls' name that is based on brains rather than looks? Consider Vidya, a name popular throughout Asia, which is connected to the Hindu goddess Sarasvati, who is thought to…
One of the 99 names of Allah, according to Islamic tradition.
"hound (or wolf) of the plain"
Conroy is one Con name that feels a bit dated, though perhaps it's so far out it's coming in? Worth consideration if you like Connor but feel it's too widely used.
Greek
"the wise one"
Despite the reputation of the sagacious ancient Greek lawmaker, this name hasn't moved to the modern world.
"seeker of knowledge"
Talib is a North African name with an admirable meaning, associated with rapper Talib Kweli.
Turkish; Ethiopian, Amharic
"clever, intelligent; pure"
This mini name is more spunky than Zack or Zeke, but shares those well-loved sounds. In Ethiopia, Zeki means "pure", and is pronounced "zeh-KEE", with emphasis on the second syllable. With the rise…
